Wednesday, 09 Feb 2005

They're Not Kidding

Anxious over declining population, Italy pays citizens to procreate

While many environmentalists fret about overpopulation, Italians are fretting over the opposite. Despite the stereotype of its massive Catholic clans, Italy actually has one of the lowest birthrates in the world, a population set to shrink by a third by 2050, and the world's highest percentage of population aged 65 or older (18.6 percent in 2003). The country wants babies. Badly. Last year, the Italian government offered a $1,300 one-time payment to couples who had a second child. The rural village of Laviano, fearful of disappearing altogether, is offering $14,000 for every tyke produced. Studies show, however, that while cash payments may accelerate breeding schedules, they don't persuade tot-averse citizens to procreate. Some activists say what's really needed is more public-policy support for working mothers. If serious steps aren't taken, says Franca Biglio, mayor of Marsaglia (population 400), "Our bella Italia will become a deserted wilderness."

Cuts Like a Knife, but It Feels So Wrong

Details of environmental cuts in Bush's budget emerge

Now that the nation's water is all cleaned up, the Bush administration has proposed sharply cutting a federal assistance program designed to help modernize aging sewer systems and prevent toxic runoff into streams and rivers -- from $1.35 billion in 2004 to $730 million. And now that the nation is no longer dependent on foreign oil, the Bush budget proposes a roughly 4 percent cut in Department of Energy funding for efficiency and renewable energy. With the oceans spic and span, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration faces proposed cuts of around 8.3 percent, hitting heaviest in those parts of the agency that work on ocean preservation and overfishing. The budget "limits and tames the spending appetite of the federal government," said President Bush, who has never vetoed a spending bill, and whose Medicare prescription drug benefit is now set to cost more than twice his projection of $534 billion over 10 years, a difference that could restore all the aforementioned cuts and leave several hundred billion dollars left over.

They've Got Huge, Sharp ... They Can Leap About ... Look at the Bones!

FBI suspects eco-terrorism in latest case of something bad happening

Two months ago, eco-terrorists were suspected of starting fires that destroyed or damaged 26 homes under construction near sensitive wetlands in Maryland. Turns out there were no eco-terrorists involved. But those same non-involved eco-terrorists may have struck again! The latest victims are apartment complexes under construction in subdivisions outside of Sacramento, Calif., in which several homemade explosive devices have been found. The hypothetico-eco-terrorists have carried out three dastardly attacks in just the past month, killing ... well, nobody, but starting one brief fire. At two of the sites, graffiti was found, reading "leave" and in one case "ELF," secret code known only to members of the Earth Liberation Front, an organization of, you guessed it, eco-terrorists! "This is terrorism, plain and simple," said the FBI's Keith Slotter. "And even if someone's target is property, not people, there is always the possibility of someone getting injured or killed." Are your children safe?

The Apple Dumping Gang

Enviros say Apple's iPod isn't green

New legislation introduced in the House of Representatives last week would establish a consumer fee on computer and television purchases to fund a national electronics recycling program. But activists say the real answer to the "e-waste" problem is increased responsibility from manufacturers, and many are focusing their ire on Apple, maker of the absurdly popular and now culturally ubiquitous iPod music player. The 4.5 million iPods purchased in late 2004 may be little more than electronic junk by 2007, as their batteries last only two to three years and are hard to replace. Green activists who protested at the Macworld Conference & Expo last month say Apple's lack of attention to safe disposal of its products poses a big problem, namely hazardous waste dumped in landfills in the U.S. or, more frequently, in developing countries. "We know that when brand manufacturers have to deal with the end product they are going to make a cleaner product in the first place," says Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition's Gopal Dayaneni, who wants Apple to improve its take-back policies. "There's economic incentive for green design."

Titi Twister

Naming rights for monkey species being sold to raise conservation funds

A new species of titi monkey found in 2000 in Bolivia's Madidi National Park will not be named by the monkey's scientific discoverers, but by the highest bidder in an online auction. "To discover a new species of mammal is just incredibly exciting and we decided to use this opportunity to raise the profile of Madidi," said biologist Robert Wallace, who helped make the case that the monkey is a distinct species. Called "Luca, Luca" by locals for the sound it makes, the monkey -- described by Wallace as "quite sort of fluffy looking" -- is covered in gold, orange, and burgundy colored fur, stands about 15 inches high, and weighs about 2 pounds. The auction for naming rights will be hosted by Charityfolks.com from Feb. 24 to March 3, and proceeds will go toward conservation in the park. Wallace says the highest bidder can choose any name for the monkey as long as it conforms to the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, which doesn't allow for offensive words. Guess that sends us back to the drawing board.